Apparatus for cleaning log members

ABSTRACT

The specification discloses an apparatus for treating log members from which veneer sheets are to be cut. The log members are conveyed in the direction of the length thereof through a wash station in which at least one bank of nozzles supply jets of wash liquid at high pressure to said log members to wash off sand and other foreign matter. A chamber following said wash station receives the log members and stores the log members at a controlled humidity until ready to be placed in a veneer cutting machine.

United States Patent 72] Inventor Mathew A. Slaats Jasper, Ind. [21] Appl. No. 18,554 [22] Filed Mar. 11, 1970 [45] Patented Jan. 11, 1972 [73] Assignee The Jasper Corporation Jasper, Ind.

[54] APPARATUS FOR CLEANING LOG MEMBERS 7 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs. [52] U.S. Cl 134/64, 134/68, 134/199 [51] Int. Cl B08b 3/02 [50] Field of Search 134/64, 68, 122, 199 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,422,757 6/1947 Swift .t 134/199 UX 2,651,312 9/1953 McBeth 134/122 3,426,773 2/1969 Yatuni 134/199 X FOREIGN PATENTS 634,315 3/1950 Great Britain 134/68 Primary Examiner-Robert L. Bleutge Att0rne vMelvin A. Crosby ABSTRACT: The specification discloses an apparatus for treating log members from which veneer sheets are to be cut. The log members are conveyed in the direction of the length thereof through a wash station in which at least one bank of nozzles supply jets of wash liquid at high pressure to said log members to wash off sand and other foreign matter. A chamber following said wash station receives the log members and stores the log members at a controlled humidity until ready to be placed in a veneer cutting machine.

PATENTEU JAN] 1 1972 INVENTOR MATHEW R SLHATS Maw APPARATUS FOR CLEANING LOG MEMBERS The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for processing logs preparatory to cutting veneer pieces therefrom.

In the cutting of veneer, the logs that are to be cut, after preliminary shaping and aging, are soaked for a prolonged period of time and then must be scrubbed to remove soil therefrom, such as sand particles and the like, which could damage the sharp knives in the veneer cutter. Heretofore, logs have been hand scrubbed to insure that they are clean and this is a laborious, time-consuming operation. It is also important for the logs to contain a certain moisture content when they are brought to the veneer cutting machine to insure proper operation of the cutting knives when the thin pieces of veneer are taken from the log.

With the foregoing in mind, a primary object of the present invention is the provision of a novel method and apparatus for processing logs prior to cutting veneer pieces therefrom which substantially eliminates hand labor in connection with processing the logs and which, furthermore, brings the logs to the veneer cutting machine in the best condition for cutting the thin veneer sheets therefrom.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a washing apparatus for log members preparatory to cutting strips of veneer therefrom in which high-pressure jets of liquid are employed for scrubbing the surfaces of the logs.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a method and apparatus for treating logs preparatory to cutting veneer strips therefrom, which will maintain the logs in the proper condition prior to placing the logs in the veneer cutting machine.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reference to the following detailed description taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic longitudinal sectional view through a machine constructed according to the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a sectional view indicated by line 11-11 on FIG. 1, showing one of the washing stations in the washing section of the machine.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention concerns a machine in which logs to be cut into veneer are placed on a conveyor and moved endwise through a washing station and then into a soaking station and from there are taken to the veneer cutting machine. The washing station comprises means for projecting liquid jets at extremely high pressure against the surface of the log member, thereby removing soil therefrom. The liquid employed is, preferably, water having detergent entrained therein and raised to a temperature at which the washing can be carried out efficiently. Following the washing, the logs pass into a soaking chamber, wherein the humidity is controlled so that when the logs are taken from the soaking chamber to the veneer cutting machine they are in the best condition for being cut into strips of veneer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings somewhat more in detail, in FIG. 1 member 10, which may be sections, or the like, of logs are disposed in substantially end-to-end relation on a conveyor structure generally indicated at 12, and which structure comprises a frame 14 with rollers 16 arranged in spaced parallel relation therein. A belt member 18 is entrained over some of the rollers 16 and under others thereof and is also entrained about a pulley 20 driven by a motor 22. Energization of motor 22 will cause the member 10 to move toward the right and to pass through a washing chamber 24. The washing chamber 24 has a flexible entrance curtain 26 and a flexible exit curtain 28. Within the washing chamber are the annular conduits 30 and along the axis of which the members 10 move in passing through the washing chamber. Each annular conduit 30 has a plurality of circumferentially spaced nozzles 32 carried thereby and directed toward the axis of the annular conduit. The conduits are supplied with fluid at high pressure via a supply conduit 34 and a pump 36, which has its suction side connected to a supply tank 38. Supply tank 38 contains the liquid 40 which, as mentioned, is preferably water with a detergent entrained therein. Electric heating means 42 may be contained within tank 38 for heating the liquid 40.

As will be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the nozzles 32 cause the liquid supplied by a pump 36 through conduit 34 to the annular conduits 30 to impinge against the surface of the member 10 moving through the washing chamber.

It has been found that the high-pressure jets provide for a superior washing action and will even remove imbedded particles of grit that can not be removed in a hand washing operation. Furthermore, any adhering bits of bark, or the like, are stripped from the log so that the external surface is substantially completely free of any foreign matter.

The washing liquid in the washing chamber drains down the inclined bottom wall 44 of the chamber and is conveyed by a conduit 46 back to tank 38. Tank 38 preferably comprises a screen, or the like, as at 48, or may include a filter, to prevent particles of foreign matter from being picked up by pump 36 and supplied to the nozzles 32.

The members 10, toward the exit end of washing chamber 24, are engaged by a second conveyor belt 50 and delivered into a chamber 52 which is maintained at high humidity as by steam, or a fine liquid spray discharged by nozzles 54 carried in a conduit 56 and supplied through a valve 58.

The member 10 are removable from the chamber 52 through the flexible exit curtain 60. When the logs are removed from chamber 52 they are ready to be placed in a veneer cutting machine and will be clean and will have the proper moisture content to permit the thin veneer sheets to be cut therefrom in a conventional veneer cutting machine.

The arrangement of the present invention permits the members 10 to be processed more rapidly than heretofore and to be delivered to the veneer cutting machine in a cleaner condition and at exactly the right degree of moisture content.

Modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

I. In an apparatus for preparing log members for cutting of sheets of veneer therefrom; a conveyor for receiving the log members and for moving them in the direction of the lengths thereof, a wash station comprising nozzles arranged circumferentially of the path of the log members, a source of washing liquid, and means for supplying said washing liquid at high pressure to said noules, said nozzles being arranged in two longitudinally spaced banks, a header supporting each bank of nozzles, a chamber into which the log members pass after leaving said wash station, and means for maintaining a controlled humidity in said chamber, said chamber and wash station being arranged in end-to-end relation with said first mentioned conveyor extending into the entrance end of said wash station, said chamber including an exit at the end thereof opposite said wash chamber.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said source of washing liquid includes a tank into which washing liquid drains after leaving said nozzles, filter means through which the washing liquid flows prior to entering said tank, and means for heating the washing liquid in said tank.

3. An apparatus according to claim I which includes a second conveyor for moving the log members from said wash station into said chamber and spaced from the first mentioned conveyor in the direction of movement of said log members, and said nozzles being disposed in planes located in the space between the adjacent ends of said conveyors whereby the entire circumference of said log members is exposed to said nozzles.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 which includes a support table between the planes of said nozzles to support the log members during transfer thereof from the first mentioned conveyor to the said second conveyor.

conveyor terminates inside said chamber a greater distance from the exit end thereof than the length of a said log member. 7. An apparatus according to claim 6 which includes a roll table extending from the end of said second conveyor through said chamber and out the exit end thereof. 

1. In an apparatus for preparing log members for cutting of sheets of veneer therefrom; a conveyor for receiving the log members and for moving them in the direction of the lengths thereof, a wash station comprising nozzles arranged circumferentially of the path of the log members, a source of washing liquid, and means for supplying said washing liquid at high pressure to said nozzles, said nozzles being arranged in two longitudinally spaced banks, a header supporting each bank of nozzles, a chamber into which the log members pass after leaving said wash station, and means for maintaining a controlled humidity in said chamber, said chamber and wash station being arranged in end-to-end relation with said first mentioned conveyor extending into the entrance end of said wash station, said chamber including an exit at the end thereof opposite said wash chamber.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said source of washing liquid includes a tank into which washing liquid drains after leaving said nozzles, filter means through which the washing liquid flows prior to entering said tank, and means for heating the washing liquid in said tank.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 1 which includes a second conveyor for moving the log members from said wash station into said chamber and spaced from the first mentioned conveyor in the direction of movement of said log members, and said nozzles being disposed in planes located in the space between the adjacent ends of said conveyors whereby the entire circumference of said log members is exposed to said nozzles.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 3 which includes a support table between the planes of said nozzles to support the log members during transfer thereof from the first mentioned conveyor to the said second conveyor.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 3 which includes flexible curtain means at the entrance end of said wash station and between said wash station and said chamber and at the exit end of said chamber.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 3 in which said chamber is substantially longer than a said log member and said second conveyor terminates inside said chamber a greater distance from the exit end thereof than the length of a said log member.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 6 which includes a roll table extending from the end of said second conveyor through said chamber and out the exit end thereof. 